IN BRIEF (Page 11)

India

Run goes ahead despite smog

Tens of thousands of runners braved smoggy conditions for the Delhi half marathon on Sunday despite dire health warnings from doctors who wanted the race postponed in the heavily-polluted capital. Around 35,000 people registered for the race after more than a week of hazardous pollution levels. The US embassy website on Sunday showed levels of the smallest and most harmful airborne pollutants reached 189 - nearly eight times the World Health Organization's safe maximum.

Afghanistan

Over 30 rescued in Taliban prison raid

Afghan and foreign special forces raided a Taliban prison in southern Helmand province on Sunday and rescued at least 30 people, according to army and provincial officials. Those rescued in the raid in Helmand's Nawzad district included four children under the age of 12 and two policemen, the officials said. Twenty of the people had been arrested by the Taliban in connection with helping the government or were family members of Afghan army and police.

Mexico

Rebuilding to take seven years

Reconstruction due to the damage in Mexico City caused by the Sept 19 earthquake will take seven years, Mayor Migual Angel Mancera said on Saturday. Two months on from the earthquake which killed 369 people nationwide, and 228 in the capital, Mancera said the authorities are working on details of the reconstruction effort but warned it was not a short-term goal. He rejected claims that things were moving slowly, days after some displaced people blockaded streets to demand help.

Chile

Pinera poised for political comeback

Sebastian Pinera, one of Chile's richest men, looks likely to win through in the first round of the country's presidential election on Sunday, confirming his frontrunner status to succeed Socialist leader Michelle Bachelet. If the 67-year-old billionaire does ultimately become head of state, it would be his second chance to run Latin America's fifth-biggest economy - confirming a tag team for power that he and Bachelet, 66, have been performing for the past decade.

United States

AC/DC guitarist Young dies at 64

Malcolm Young, the rhythm guitarist and guiding force behind the hard rock band AC/DC who helped create such head-banging anthems as Highway to Hell, Hells Bells and Back in Black, has died. He was 64. AC/DC announced the death on Saturday on their official Facebook page and website. A representative for the band confirmed the news. Young had been suffering from dementia since 2014.

AFP - Reuters - Xinhua - AP

(China Daily 11/20/2017 page11)